Varudu Kaavalenu movie review: This breezy family entertainer flatters to deceive

2.5/5

Story:

Aakash is a happy-go-lucky youngster and a popular architect, who has made a career for himself in Paris. He yearns to return to India in a bid to do some soul searching. Back home, he accidentally bumps into his college mate Bhoomika, a successful entrepreneur and a boss woman with a never-say-die spirit. Moving past the initial awkwardness, the two forge a strong rapport. Meanwhile, Bhoomika's mother Prabhavati is hellbent on getting her daughter married at the earliest. Will Aakash and Bhoomika gather the courage to take the next step in their relationship? Is there a happy ending on the cards?

Review:

Family entertainers are like comfort food in Telugu cinema. They come with a template, are meant to be familiar, identifiable and have a proven track record of drawing audiences to theatres in large numbers when done right. Varudu Kaavalenu, produced by one of the leading production houses, Sithara Entertainments, on paper, had everything going for it - be it the charismatic lead actors Naga Shaurya, Ritu Varma, the content camouflaged in a classy, flamboyant exterior besides a hit music album. Ultimately, does it deliver? Well, almost - so near and yet so far.

If we're to discuss what works for the film, it's how director Lakshmi Sowjanya creates a neat foundation for the (wafer-thin) plot. The film addresses several complications that 20s something men and women face while on the cusp of marriage with a pinch of humour. It discusses several anomalies with the arranged marriage system - the pressure from parents to get married at the 'right' age, the criteria behind finding the right match, the idea of blind dates, the uncertainty about not knowing a person fully before marriage - and equates it to a circus of sorts.

The first hour coasts along rather smoothly, barring a few odd situations, like the one where Aaaksh rejects a Rs 200 crore deal from a businessman while talking about doing business with heart. The tiffs between the mother and daughter about marriage are extremely relatable and are among the most entertaining portions of the film. The portrayal of Bhoomi as a stone-hearted boss provides a ripe opportunity to come up with funny situations - the hilarious exchanges among Vennela Kishore, Praveen, Himaja ring in a light-hearted vibe.

It's also a welcome change to notice a female lead having a voice of her own and an arc beyond falling for the man of her dreams. The idea of two opposites - intentionally named Aakash and Bhoomi- falling for each other may be as old as the hills, though the treatment is more grounded and sensible here. All's well until you're introduced to the film's core conflict, which is almost trivial and frivolous. The overlong, ineffective flashback episode derails its momentum and the film never recovers from that setback later.

The college episodes involving the protagonists are unimaginative and futile. The film is stuck in a time warp with the comedy-song-fight formula and turns into a Karan Johar-esque extended wedding video in the second half. Numerous songs, hummable ones without a doubt, affect the flow of the narrative. The dull picturisation of Digu Digu Naaga is also a colossal disappointment. The comedy track featuring an impatient Saptagiri about lags only works to a certain extent. Incidentally, it's the same impatience that viewers are likely to experience with the film's pacing issues too.

The laughs keep coming in Varudu Kaavalenu but there's very little reason to invest in the story otherwise. The dialogues by Ganesh Kumar Ravuri are good only in parts and mostly turn out to be verbose, cinematic and overlong, almost mimicking Trivikram's 'praasa' at every given opportunity. There's very little originality on display and the characters converse in the form of sermons and punchlines throughout the film. It's as if no one can talk like regular people. Murali Sharma's response to why he wouldn't force his (on-screen) daughter to marry hastily has its heart in the right place and yet the thought isn't built upon later.

The soapy ending turns out to be the final nail in the coffin. Varudu Kaavalenu has a dream lineup, from its leads to supporting actors to comedians and still doesn't make most of their abilities. There's more to Nadhiya than an authoritarian mom this time, while Rohini, Anand and Jayaprakash remain underutilised. Murali Sharma's role strikes a chord though you wish it had a better say in the plot. Ritu Varma, beyond her fashion sense, has terrific screen-presence. Naga Shaurya, as dependable as ever, does justice to his part.

Varudu Kaavalenu's visual aesthetics work big time, be it the production design, costumes or cinematography. The characters turn up in the classiest of costumes in the brightest of colours - blazers, formal wear, saris, lehengas and what not. The contributions of the technicians certainly stand out.

Verdict:

Varudu Kaavalenu starts with promise though it flatters to deceive later. The first-director Lakshmi Sowjanya struggles to translate her interesting premise into a fully engaging film. The humour is effective in parts. Naga Shaurya, Ritu Varma deliver what's expected of them. Vishal Chandrasekhar's pleasant music, Vamsi Patchipulusu's cinematography add value to the result. A one time watch that certainly had the scope to be better!